Spandex & Wine

Wearing Grief w/ Mary Carlton

Grief changes the rules overnight. One day you’re living your normal life, and the next you’re trying to figure out how to breathe, eat, move, and exist in a world that looks the same but feels completely different. I’m joined by Mary, the creator of Wearing Grief [https://wearinggrief.com/], who shares the story of losing her 21-year-old daughter, Grace, in a sudden car accident and how that kind of loss reshapes identity, relationships, and even the simplest daily choices. We talk about why she started designing grief shirts as a form of catharsis, how the project grew into community grief groups, and why she’s intentional about honoring her daughter’s life without turning her work into a replay of the worst day. We also get practical about grief support and what to say to someone who is grieving. Mary explains why “let me know if you need anything” rarely helps, and what does help instead: specific offers, tiny errands, paper plates, soup, taking out the trash, watering the dog, and yes, bringing toilet paper. We dig into the power of steady presence after the funeral, and how people can show up without trying to fix pain. Since this is Spandex and Wine, we also explore grief and the body, including hip pain, nervous system overload, and why walking, yoga, breathwork, meditation, and nature can help you feel safe in your body again. If you’ve been searching for real talk on grief and gratitude, bereavement, coping with loss, wellness after tragedy, or how to help a grieving friend, you’ll find language and tools you can actually use. Subscribe to Spandex and Wine, leave a five-star review, and share this with someone who needs steady support right now. What’s one specific thing you wish people would do when you’re hurting? IG: @wearinggrief Website: Wearing Grief – WearingGrief [https://wearinggrief.com/] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/spandexandwine] Thanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine] Instagram & Facebook: @spandexandwine Web Site: www.spandexandwine.com

Weight Loss Shots Or Natural Support

Weight loss shots are everywhere right now, and I understand the pull. When you’re tired of cravings, tired of “food noise,” and tired of feeling stuck, a fast solution can sound like relief. But I want to slow the conversation down and ask a different question: what if the first step is supporting your body naturally instead of jumping straight to a prescription? We talk through why these medications are so appealing, plus the concerns that don’t always make the headline, like nausea, muscle loss, and the risk of long-term dependency. I also share a moment from a doctor’s office that made me think hard about the long game. From there, I explain what I focus on with clients: balancing blood sugar, calming cravings, supporting gut health, and especially supporting the liver, since it plays a huge role in metabolism and fat storage. Most importantly, I come back to the basics that actually create lasting weight loss and better energy: enough protein, strength training to build muscle, consistent meals, fewer processed foods, and real sleep. If you feel stuck, I also share how plant-based support and group coaching can help you build simple routines you can stick with. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s weighing options, and leave a review with your biggest question about cravings or blood sugar. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/spandexandwine] Thanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine] Instagram & Facebook: @spandexandwine Web Site: www.spandexandwine.com

Seven Common Health Questions With Clear-ish Answers

You can do everything “right” for a week and still feel stuck for months. That’s usually not because you’re broken, it’s because the basics got buried under perfectionism, noise, and plans you can’t sustain. We sit down for a rapid-fire Q&A and tackle the real questions people ask when they’re trying to feel better in their body: what to eat, whether tracking food matters, what workouts actually work, and why results sometimes refuse to show up.  We talk practical nutrition for real life: whole foods, enough protein, fiber, and water, plus the one thing that matters more than any meal idea, consistency. We also dig into food tracking and macro counting as a tool for awareness, not punishment. A short tracking phase can teach you portion “math” you carry forever, helping you build meals confidently without chasing a perfect plan.  On the fitness side, we get honest about what moves the needle: repeatable strength training that challenges you, cardio that supports your life rather than runs it, and movement that helps your mind as much as your body. We also cover common reasons results stall, under-eating, stress, nervous system regulation, and lifting too light, and we answer the question many listeners think but rarely say out loud: do you have to give up wine?  If you want a simple starting point, we share exactly how to begin without a full overhaul, and how to get support along the way. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the basics, and leave a review with the #1 question you want us to answer next. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/spandexandwine] Thanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine] Instagram & Facebook: @spandexandwine Web Site: www.spandexandwine.com

Daily Objective Distillery - Their Story, Spirits & Vision

Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@spandexandwine] Check out Daily Objective Distillery [https://dailyobjectivedistillery.com/] We didn’t plan to find a new favorite Missouri distillery, but a quick drive for Christmas gifts turned into a full-on discovery. On the way to Amsterdam, Missouri, we spotted a building that looked like it had a story, took the chance, and ended up at Daily Objective Distillery, a ranch-side tasting room that’s growing fast for a reason. If you love craft spirits, real behind-the-scenes process talk, and places that feel like an instant weekend tradition, this one hits.  Steve Parks walks us through how Daily Objective came to life, from a wedding conversation to building out a destination distillery with a stage, events, and major production ambitions. We get into what he was making before Missouri, how a moonshine curiosity turned into a serious rum program, and why ingredients like blackstrap molasses, blue agave sugars, and Madagascar vanilla beans change everything. He also breaks down the equipment and process in plain language: fermentation, mash bills, time and temperature control, making cuts, and why water filtration matters when you’re blending proof and bottling for consistency.  Then Samantha Prothe, the general manager and the brain behind the calendar, shares what’s coming next: concert series plans, festivals, possible comedy nights, pickleball courts, cornhole leagues, rotating food trucks, and how they’re building a true community hub just a few miles off the highway. We also talk signature cocktails and award-winning spirits, including a clean, traditional old fashioned (plus a smoked option), lavender lemonade with vodka, espresso martinis made with rum, and the upcoming Petals Gin.  If you’re anywhere near Kansas City or looking for a Missouri weekend destination, come hang with us for this on-site tour and some serious drink inspiration. Subscribe to the show, share this with a friend who loves distilleries, and leave a review so more people can find Spandex and Wine. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/spandexandwine] Thanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine] Instagram & Facebook: @spandexandwine Web Site: www.spandexandwine.com

Plan, Pivot, Pour A Glass

My outline was ready, my answers were planned, and then I did the most relatable thing possible: I left the notes on the wrong computer. So instead of a polished Q&A on fitness, nutrition, and midlife health, I hit record anyway and leaned into the bigger lesson: real life rarely follows the plan, and a balanced wellness journey has to include the ability to pivot. If you’ve ever felt thrown off by one small mistake that snowballed, you’ll feel seen.  I also share a sneak peek at two conversations I’m genuinely excited to bring you next. First, I’m heading to Daily Objective Distillery in Amsterdam, Missouri, a craft distillery set on 8,000 acres with a story that started with a retired Navy SEAL and a ranch owner who wanted to build something meaningful. Think small-batch American craft spirits, a gorgeous setting, live music, and the kind of place where people gather for great drinks and even better stories.  Then we get personal about movement, pain, and the fear that shows up when your body won’t do what it used to. After a tough stretch where basic things like getting dressed felt hard, I started working with Dr. Adam Dinkel (chiropractic care focused on root-cause healing) alongside pelvic floor physical therapy, and it helped me get back to feeling like myself. We also talk about the Midlife Collective and why adding more voices creates deeper questions and better perspective for anyone navigating midlife wellness, recovery, and confidence.  If you like honest conversations about health, happiness, and a little wine along the way, follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who could use a reminder that pivots are part of progress. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/spandexandwine] Thanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine] Instagram & Facebook: @spandexandwine Web Site: www.spandexandwine.com